5 Wellness Trends of 2018

One of the most important things in life is taking care of yourself. Especially in these busy times, when we’re committing ourselves to goals we want to accomplish–from learning piano to getting into law school by 2019–it’s easy to get caught up in everything we want to do. Especially considering how much time we’re spending on social media, comparing ourselves to other people, life can be stressful.

Luckily, however, 2018 is also a time when we’re focusing on the importance of wellness. Now more than ever, professionals are recommending that we spend more time on ourselves, which means that there is a way to strike a balance between work and self-care. If you want to know what the biggest wellness trends of 2018 are, read on:

1. Strength training

Maybe it’s the popularity of the Kardashians, encouraging women to embrace their curves, or maybe it’s the scientific studies being posted all over Facebook about how having more muscle not only makes you stronger but also makes you burn your metabolism faster–but strength training is more popular now than ever. Whether you’re weightlifting at the gym or using your body weight at home while watching POP Pilates videos online, there are many ways to follow this trend.

According to Time.com, strength training has a multitude of benefits in addition to weight loss, from bone strength to improving cognitive function.

2. Smart sleeping

According to Good Housekeeping, the importance of sleeping is going to be another big health trend of 2018, including the introduction of smart beds and pillows such as the Sleep Number 360. Sleep apps are going to be a big part of the trend, too–check out this list from Medical News Today to find out what works best for you.

In addition to being good for you generally–after all, adults need seven to nine hours of sleep a night–sleeping well also has beauty benefits. According to Cosmopolitan.com, when you don’t sleep enough, “Your skin becomes imbalanced, which leads to a dehydrated complexion, redness, and breakouts. Not only does not getting enough sleep negatively affect your body, it affects the moisture levels in your skin, decreasing them and also lowering your complexion’s pH levels, which is why your skin looks less youthful and has less of a glow.”

3. Digital detoxing

Did you know that the average American spends over four hours a day on their phone? And considering all the news recently about Facebook’s notifications being designed to be psychologically addictive, it’s no surprise that 2018 is the year for detoxing. Not only from our phones, but also from our need to binge-watch a Netflix show, somehow staying up until 4 AM with only the glow of the screen on our faces.

According to Forbes.com, one of the biggest trends related to digital detoxing will be unplugged retreats, such as Digital Detox Retreats, which “enforces visitors to check their phone at the door and join in on activities designed to help with reflection, connection and meditation. Activities include coloring walls, stargazing, archery, rock climbing and singalongs.” If you can’t afford a retreat, you can always download (ironic, we know) a digital detox app like ShutApp.

4. Sunlight therapy

Especially in the beginning of the year, it’s easy to see why sunlight therapy is such an important trend: short winter days, dark and cold, are not only depressing, but they’re likely to sap your energy. The fact is, most people get some of their necessary vitamin D exposure from sunlight, so if you’re spending a lot of time indoors (such as the office), or you live somewhere with little sun exposure and overcast days, it’s worth investing in sunlight therapy.

According to sheerluxe.com, one way of doing this is with infrared saunas, which “will heat the body from the inside out by warming your skin tissue, whereas traditional saunas just heat the air. This means your body is able to flush out toxins, including dirt and pollution and it’s this detoxification process that’s making infrared saunas so attractive to wellness purists.” Additionally, if your house is a bit dark, take a look at Caia, an AI-powered robot that sends the sun where you need it most with mirror technology.

5. Green beauty

It’s no surprise that green beauty is a big trend in 2018–after all, green living (and buying) is more popular every year, and 80 percent of Gen Zers, according to Precision Dialogue, are more likely to buy a product if it has a positive social or environmental impact. Millennials are more willing to pay more for ethical products, too.

These generations that relate to movies like The Social Network and People You May Know are controlling much of the economy now, considering that they’re getting older, and spending a lot of time discussing products online. This is why not only green beauty but also green living in general is a big trend in 2018.

These are some of the top wellness trends of 2018. What wellness trends are you excited about this year?